Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak International Hill Climb 2014

My stepdad has been a huge influence in my life, and snowboarding career. He has been driving cars professionally for a decade longer than i've been alive and at the top level at that. He is a truly humbly, awesome person, and so supportive about my decision to pursue my passion in snowboarding. I was so pleased to be able to watch him in action in Colorado Springs this past weekend 6/29/14. Rick was racing a 58 Lister Jaguar as a tribute to the 50's and the "can do" generation with a salute across the back for his late father (Fred Knoop, and the Navy Seals.) This car screams America! Rick is a very competent race car driver and although this car was not meant to climb hills, you would never had known by the way he drives. Smooth maneuvering and years of experience landed Rick in 2nd place in the Super Unlimited class (the fastest class at Pikes) and this was only his 2nd time at Pikes Peak. He finished the 12 mile race with 5,000 plus feet of vertical to end at 14,110 feet in 10:16 seconds, putting him in 9th overall for the cars. Very proud to have been there to watch him do what he does best!

Lucky for me the day before the race I got to spend it with my family and boyfriend at one of the most beautiful places I have been recently; The Garden of the Gods.